Information Culford Applicants 2019-20
Pre-Prep & Nursery (ages 1-7) Independent boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 1 to 18 years
CULFORD PRE-PREP & NURSERY
R E A DY F O R T H E J O U R N E Y
Ethos and Values Culford provides an education which is challenging, enriching and fun. We are a Christian school with a Methodist Foundation but pupils from all faiths, and none, are welcome. Our guiding values are fair-mindedness, hard work, enjoyment and treating others with respect and consideration. We also attach great importance to good manners, discipline, service to others and to caring for the school and the environment. We value effort and achievement and encourage every positive contribution a pupil makes to the life of the Culford School community. The principles informing the School’s policies are explained to each pupil and compliance is a condition of membership of the School. Some also apply to parents who are asked to read through the detailed policies contained in the Parents’ and Pupils’ Handbooks with their child from time to time.
CULFORD PRE-PREP & NURSERY
R E A DY F O R T H E J O U R N E Y
Admission to the Nursery
The Eastfields Nursery Our stand-alone Nursery is open Monday to Friday for 50 weeks of the year. There are two separate playrooms (for 1-2 and 2-3 year olds) and a lovely outdoor play area and garden. Fieldgate Nursery Nursery 3 (for 3-4 year olds) is based at the Pre-Prep School. Entry Before joining us, you and your child will be invited to attend a session to ensure that your child will settle well and will thrive within our caring environment.
Nursery Curriculum At the Nursery we recognise that play is children’s work. We seek to stimulate each child while promoting a positive approach to learning. The classes follow the Early Years Foundation Stage and focus on:
• Communication and language • Mathematics • Literacy • Expressive arts and design • Physical development • Understanding the world • Personal, social and emotional development The children also have access to our Forest School. As children get older, specialist teachers teach dance, music, swimming and tennis, with further tennis offered as an optional extra.
General Nursery Information The School Day We offer a variety of school start and end times to meet individual needs, including morning and afternoon sessions, School Day (08:00 to 15:50) and Full Day (08:00 to 18:00). We also provide a Breakfast Club from 07:30. Transition to Pre-Prep School Culford Nursery is a short walk from Pre-Prep. The children enjoy lots of contact with the Pre-Prep staff and may take part in activities with the Nursery 3 and Reception children. Parents are kept informed about the transition process with an information afternoon in the Autumn term, an induction day in the Summer term, a welcome afternoon in September and newsletters throughout the process.
Uniform Children in Nursery 1 and 2 are not required to wear uniform. Children in Nursery 3 are required to wear the Pre-Prep uniform and encourages even the youngest pupils to take pride in their appearance and their school. Our uniform is available to buy online at schoolblazer.com Breakfast Club Breakfast club is available from 07:30 and must be booked in advance. Parents of children under two will be required to provide food for their child. For the older children, there is a range of healthy food available including toast, cereals, yoghurts and fruit. Holiday Club The Nursery (for 1-3 year olds) is open 50 weeks of the year throughout School Holidays. The Nursery is not open during staff training days, which are highlighted in the annual Nursery calendar. Parent, Baby & Toddler Session This session, usually held on Friday, is a great way to introduce your child to Culford. Once your son or daughter is registered, you may attend the group session at half-price. Please visit culford.co.uk/parent-baby-and-toddler for more information.
CULFORD PRE-PREP & NURSERY
R E A DY F O R T H E J O U R N E Y
Admission to Pre-Prep (ages 4 to 7)
Assessment Admission to the Pre-Prep School is determined by an informal assessment. Your child will spend a morning or day in the classroom with pupils of the same age while we observe their interaction and social skills. In Years 1 (PP1) and 2 (PP2) they will spend a day in class, while we assess their reading, writing and numeracy skills. Transfer to the Prep School is on the basis of informal assessment in the Spring term of the year of entry, along with a satisfactory school report. Pre-Prep Curriculum We offer a caring environment where each child is encouraged and expected to achieve his or her full potential. Academic standards are high, class sizes are small, and there are opportunities to explore a variety of interests and abilities. Pupils access ICT through interactive whiteboards and laptops, and there is a well-stocked library. Culford is a Forest School and offers children exciting opportunities to learn through play in the beautiful environment of Culford Park.
Reception (PPR) While allowing time for learning through play, we continue to work on the Early Years Foundation Stage areas of learning with the emphasis on literacy and numeracy. The children also learn history, geography, Mad Science, art, design and technology, PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education), philosophy and SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning). Physical education, dance, French, music, swimming and tennis are taught by specialist teachers. Year One (PP1) PP1 provides a more structured environment, with continuing emphasis on literacy and numeracy. The children study history, geography, philosophy, religious studies, science, art, design and technology, PSHE and SEAL. As above, French, dance, swimming and music are taught by specialist teachers. Pupils also learn to play a wind instrument, the ocarina and individual music lessons are available on request. Physical education is taught by specialist teachers and includes hockey, rugby and tennis. Year Two (PP2) PP2 study includes literacy, numeracy, history, geography, science, music, art, design and technology, French, philosophy, PSHE, SEAL and religious studies. Pupils learn the recorder and have weekly music lessons with individual tuition available. Dance and PE, including swimming and tennis, are taught by specialist teachers.
Transition to Prep School Culford Pre-Prep has strong links with the Prep School. The Head of Prep School regularly visits the Pre-Prep, while children share activities with older pupils and some lessons with Prep School teachers. Parents are kept informed about the transition process with an information afternoon in the Autumn term, an induction day in the Summer term, a welcome afternoon in September and newsletters throughout the process. Parents can also attend music concerts and other activities at the Prep School.
Learning Development Culford is a mainstream school with a small, highly-successful Learning Development Department serving the Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior Schools. We offer support to pupils with mild, specific learning difficulties who are able to manage independently in the classroom. Tailor-made provision is built into a broad and balanced mainstream timetable to meet individual needs. Learning Development lessons are offered before school or on a withdrawal basis. Lessons are taught to individuals or pairs by specialist teachers and incur an additional cost. Copies of our Handbook for Parents may be downloaded from Culford’s website: culford.co.uk Parents wishing to limit such charges should speak to their child’s Housemaster or Housemistress.
CULFORD PRE-PREP & NURSERY
R E A DY F O R T H E J O U R N E Y
Pre-Prep General Information
Uniform The Pre-Prep uniform is one of our hallmarks and encourages even the youngest pupils to take pride in their appearance and their school. Our uniform is available to buy online at schoolblazer.com Breakfast Club – Pre-Prep Breakfast club is available from 07:30 for £8 per session. After School Provision Many after-school activities are offered at additional cost to Pre-Prep pupils from PP1, including football, rugby, tennis, art club, Zumba, golf, Mad Science, cricket, cookery and netball. After-school care is also offered until 18:00 for Nursery and Pre-Prep children. Holiday Club – Pre-Prep Culford Sports and Tennis Centre runs a summer holiday and half-term Sports & Activity programme for children aged 5-15 years. This takes place daily from 08:30 to 17:30 throughout the holidays. Activities include rounders, table tennis, arts & crafts and a daily swim. We also offer Tennis Camps for children aged 5 years and above and individual activities such as Puppetry classes and Forest School. For more information, please contact the Sports & Tennis Centre on +44 (0)1284 385370 or email cstc@culford.co.uk What is Forest School? Forest School is a way of learning outdoors that helps children to develop personal, social and technical skills in a woodland setting. Culford is extremely fortunate to be situated in beautiful parkland with woodland on the doorstep. We use our unique location as a Forest School to encourage independence and self-esteem in our pupils.
What are the benefits? • Increases emotional wellbeing • Enables social development through communication, negotiation and problem-solving • Develops fine and gross motor skills and co-ordination • Links with the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum areas of learning • Builds confidence through having fun Admissions Policy The educational interests of the child are at the heart of our selection process and we will only admit pupils whose educational needs we can adequately meet. It is a general principle that no part of Culford will admit a child in the belief that they will not qualify for the next stage of their education within the School. It is, however, recognised that, especially at younger ages, making such judgements may be difficult and there may, on occasion, be children within the School who do not qualify for transfer to the next part of the School. Any decision to refuse such progress will be made:
• with timely, documented and open discussions with the parents
• with regard to the best educational interests of the child concerned
Parents whose children are admitted with such reservations will be informed regularly of the likelihood of progression to the next stage of education. Any parent whose child is deemed unlikely to progress to the next stage at Culford will receive a formal letter outlining concerns at least one calendar year prior to the end of the academic year in which transfer occurs. Culford reserves the right, in consultation with parents/guardians, not to offer places to those whom it considers would not benefit from the School’s education, or whose presence might have a detrimental effect on other pupils.
Responsibility for Admission to Culford In all cases the Head of School is responsible for deciding to admit or refuse entry to a pupil. Where such a decision is challenged, the School’s normal Complaints Procedure should be followed. School Policies You can find all Culford’s policies and handbooks, including the School Safeguarding policy, on our website culford.co.uk
Optional Subjects and Payments After School Activities We offer a variety of after-school activities, currently including: country dancing, art, choir, Mad Science and sports clubs. Parents are advised of additional termly charges per activity and asked to sign up for their children’s chosen activities at the start of each term. After-school care is also available between 16:00 and 18:00. Learning Development Learning Development is available for £28 per 40 minute lesson. Pre-Prep sessions are 15 to 20 minutes long, meaning cost is calculated pro-rata. Music Lessons Music lessons are priced at £12 per 15 minute session. Discounts for Siblings For families with 3 or more children attending Culford simultaneously, the following discounts will apply: 3rd child: 10% 4th child: 20% 5th child: 35% 6th child: 60% Triplets: 10% per child Quadruplets: 15% per child Discounts do not apply until the third sibling is in PPR (Reception) or above.
Fees and what they cover A non-refundable registration fee of £100 per pupil is payable prior to assessments. Early registration is recognised with half-price Parent, Baby and Toddler sessions prior to starting at the Nursery (please call the Admissions Office on 01284 385308 for more details). An acceptance fee per pupil of £150 (Nursery) and £300 (Pre-Prep) is payable with the acceptance form. These sums secure your child’s place and are retained to contribute to the School’s Bursaries Fund. Fees include tuition, meals, standard textbooks and teaching resources. Fees do not include optional subjects and examination entry fees. Fees are payable on or before the first day of term. Payment by direct debit is available over a ten-month period August-May. It is also possible to arrange a lump sum advance payment of fees.
CULFORD PRE-PREP & NURSERY
R E A DY F O R T H E J O U R N E Y
The Culford Estate
Culford Hall Headmaster’s Office Finance Office Admissions Office Foundation Office Studio Theatre Centenary Hall Music School Nearly New Shop
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Cricket Pavilion
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Iron Bridge
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South Front
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Headmaster’s Lodge
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St Mary’s Church
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Hastings and Skinner Teaching Blocks
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William Miller & Bristol Myers Science Building
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Library and Watson Lecture Theatre
10 Pringle Centre for Art and Design Technology 11
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Sports Centre and Paddy & Scott’s café
12 Swimming Pool 13 Indoor Tennis Centre
All Weather Pitch
18 Athletics Track 19 Pre-Prep & Nursery School 20 Estate Yard 21 Medical Centre 22 Ashby Dining Hall 23 Ashby Quad Houses 24 Cadogan House 25 Prep School 26 Prep School Sports Pitches 27 Rugby Pitches 28 Golf range 29 Eastfields Nursery
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16 Artificial Turf Pitch (Culford Hockey Centre)
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14 Outdoor Tennis Centre
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Culford School Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP28 6TX +44 (0)1284 385308 admissions@culford.co.uk
culford.co.uk
The information within may be subject to change and does not form part of any contractual agreement between parents, pupils or guardians and the School.
Culford School is a Registered Charity No 1142794. Administered by Methodist Independent Schools Trust Company Registration 7649422.